City Facing More Than 700m Gallons Water Shortage Daily

KARACHI: Major parts of Karachi are facing acute water shortage on one count to another. Almost half of the dwellers in different parts of city were experiencing more than 600 million gallon water shortage on daily basis.

Poor distribution and short supply of water including disrupting supply of water on account of power load shedding by Karachi Electric (KE) has manifold the miseries of dwellers asking for water.

It is said due to KE’s load shedding at different water pumping stations the city dwellers were experiencing more than 180 million gallon water shortage. The worst affected localities in city including North Karachi, parts of North Nazimabad, Nazimabad blocks 1, 2, 4, 5, North Karachi, Parts of Surjani Town, Airport, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Machar Colony, Neempura, Safoora, Shah Faisal Colony and old city areas.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) and KE remained silent on the issue and were not responding to people of these areas for resolving their plight.

According to spokesman for Water Board four hours of load shedding was being conducted at five pumping stations of the city. The water shortage would continue for at least next three days he added.

According to managing director Water Board, KE should not conduct load shedding at pumping stations as city was already facing 600 million gallon shortage on a daily basis. Meanwhile Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddqui on the situation contacted Chief Executive Officer of KE and asked him to immediately stop load shedding at pumping stations. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said KE should change its attitude otherwise Sindh government would be forced to take action.

The power outages was worsening water crisis and the government would take legal action against power entity as loadshedding disturbed supply of water to millions of consumers.

Power loadshedding on pumping stations is an act of contempt of court and against law.

Memon warned tankers mafia for overcharging price of water and directed authorities to take action against mafia. He appealed to people to complain for overcharging.

He said directives have been issued to all deputy commissioners to take action against tanker mafia for overcharging price.

Price of tanker of 1,000 gallons water is Rs 1,000, Rs 1,300 of 2,000 gallons and Rs 1,800 of 3,000 gallons and Rs 2,800 for 5,000 gallons of water.

Meanwhile monitoring committee to revamp water supply system in Karachi headed by Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqi has decided to overcome water shortage in affected areas with help of water tankers.

He called upon officials concerned to take steps through better management to improve distribution of water so as to ensure its equitable distribution in city and no area be deprived of water and left unattended.